Bio

Janisse Gracia was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA. She started working with clay in 2011 and has developed a fascination for the medium and its processes. She received her BA from California State University, Northridge, in 2017 and has focused her energy on working as a studio artist and manager, lab technician, and instructor. Currently, she serves as Executive Director of Green & Bisque Clayhouse in Pasadena and is pursuing an MFA degree from CSU Northridge.

Artist Statement

I am a maker of objects, driven by a desire to connect—with myself, with others, and with the quiet weight of the everyday. My practice is slow and deliberate, attuned to the natural rhythm of materials and time. Repetition is central to my process—rolling coils, pinching patterns, paddling forms—each gesture an act of care and commitment. Through these movements, I navigate memory, longing, and the intimate labor embedded in making.

My work is an exploration of connection and solitude, a surrender to slowness and unpredictability. Through these objects, I seek to trace the invisible threads between self and others, creating forms that hold the quiet complexities of being.